Alejandro D'Acosta and Claudia Turrent's experiments in green design

By Barbara Thornburg

Architects Alejandro D’Acosta and Claudia Turrent are on a quest to promote a sustainable way of life for themselves and their community in the nascent revolucion verde just south of the Tijuana border. The Ensenada coast and nearby Valle de Guadalupe wine-making region inland are testing grounds for their experiments in green design, and though the couple's architecture can be grand, their own home is a simple trailer that lies lightly on the earth, facing the northern Baja coastline where waves break dramatically. Here, D’Acosta opens the gate adorned with a painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe. “A guy with a small stand in front of our property use to sell sunglasses here,” D’Acosta says, adding that the Ray-Ban sign's numbers have become their official address.

Click here to see other examples of the couple's adventures in sustainable design.